It was a low speed low side and it was my fault. I was way to close to my buddy riding a Yam V-Star 1100. He made a very unexpected left as opposed to going straight to the main road as we always do. We ride together all the time and know each others riding style quite well which made it all the more shocking when I was about to T-bone him. We were probably going about 10 mph when I had to lay it down. The now bent Jardine highway bar/pegs, kick stand and the centerstand saved the bike. The are scrapes on the left side turn signals, speedo is scraped and bent out of position, handlebars are bent and I think I'll be able to bend the Jardine bar back into place. I went down with some force, my upper left leg is swollen/bruised and I have two rasberries on me left knee. My left leather harness boot had a good scrape on the toebox but the foot/ankle are fine. I was wearing my JR Phoenix (armored mesh) jacket and Phoenix gloves and a full face HJC helmet. The jacket saved my left arm from road rash and cushioned the impact, and hands are fine. Luckily my head didn't smack the ground.

Note to self: ride further back from now on.

Glad that you are OK. Thanks for letting us in on the details too. Will keep distance in mind even more when with my riding buddy. It can happen with familar riders as with unfamilar ones. Flemdog

you need one of these now. http://www.vn750.com/forum/images/smilie/icon_idea.gif

What a bummer. Glad to hear that you were able to walk away from it. Hopefully, you will be able to get the Jardine's bent back into place, everything else in comparison is cheap to replace.

Out of curiousity, what were you wearing on your legs for gear?

Thanks and welcome to the club (First and hopefully only crash October of '03, 3 weeks after buying the bike)

Mike,

I was wearing jeans. I've thought about armored mesh pants but where does it end? I already wear way more gear (including earplugs) than any of my cruiser riding buddies. They ask me why I wear it all and I repond (nicely) that I ride faster thann they do so I need the extra protection. I know a few yrs back someone was working on an inflatable suit for riders which would work like a car's airbag. A great idea but how many would wear such a thing, assuming they could afford it? I think I remember reading about your mishap on the Yahoo board. Are you and the bike ok now?

Thanks for the extra info. I rely mainly with jeans myself. I recently got a pair of leather chaps but don't always wear them because the it isn't "convienient." Even they don't provide full coverage but the are better than nothing and the only way I can get something that will go on my legs because of my size (440lbs big waist).

I was really fortunate in my accident. I bruised my right calf, but got no road rash. I got thrown clear of the bike and ended up on my back. The only serious protective gear was my helmet and gloves. I had a light jacket with a sweater on. It was enough for this one accident, but one of the first items I bought while repairing the bike was a Joe Rocket Ballistic 5.0 jacket. I wasn't going to take a chance again. The bike has new Kuryakyn grips, calipers, and footpegs, flanders handlebars and off brand taillights (damage was to the left, but I HAD to keep everything paired up.). So both me and my bike ultimately benefited from the accident.
However it isn't something I want to happen again. Thanks again for sharing your story. It will cause me to think twice before deciding my chaps are to inconvienient.

Good you are ok. and good to hear the bike itself is ok. (no body shop needed) and thanks for the info. may save me from the same thing.

At least you are relatively ok. Maybe putting some "extras" on the bike will make you feel better.......

Hey Bruce,

Hate to hear about the accident but I am glad you are ok. When I crashed mine a few months ago I kept kicking myself for being so stupid ("crash dummy" seemed appropriate at the time). Hope I have learned enough to not have a repeat performance.